Spray nozzle

ABSTRACT

A nozzle assembly intended to be hand held at the end of a water hose or supported on top of a stake inserted in the ground has a main body portion and a nozzle plate rotatably supported on the main body portion. The nozzle plate has a plurality of nozzle orifices of different sizes or characteristics indexable in front of an outlet port in the main body portion. Sealing means, recesses and other features are provided to prevent water from squirting at a user while he holds the nozzle assembly and indexes the nozzle plate to present different nozzle orifices to the outlet port.

United States Patent Bartlett June 4, 1974 [5 SPRAY NOZZLE 3,377,0284/1968 Bruggeman 239/394 3,596,835 8/1971 s "111 1'1 239 394 [76]Inventor: Lawrence 21 3,704,831 12/1972 C lzi rk 239/394 Hartford, y-42347 3,711,029 1/1973 Bartlett 239/394 [22] Filed: Dec. 7, 1972 Appl.No.: 312,839

[63] Continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 133,556, April 13,

1971, Pm. No. 3,711,029.

[52] US. Cl 239/276, 239/394, 277/212 [51] Int, Cl. A62c 31/22 [58]Field of Search; ..239/394 ;276,1 1 o, 1,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 564,412 7/1896 Rath 239/2761,125,067 1/1915 'Cook 2771212 x 2,212,533 8/1940 Zimmerman 239/391 2,72,029 2/1942 Benson... 277/212 x Primary Examiner-M. Henson Wood, Jr.Assistant Examiner-Andres Kashnikow Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Edwin E.Greigg [57] ABSTRACT A nozzle assembly intended to be hand held at theend of a water hose or supported on top of a stake inserted in theground has a main body portion and a nozzle plate rotatably supported onthe main body portion.

The nozzle plate has a plurality of nozzle orifices of 15 Claims, 11Drawing Figures PATENTEDJuu 4 m4 SHEET 2 (IF 2 SPRAY NOZZLE Thisapplication is a continuation-in-part application of application Ser.No. 133,556, filed Apr. 13, 1971 now US. Pat. No. 3,711,029 granted Jan.16, 1973.

This invention relates to a nozzle assembly having a plurality ofindexable nozzle orifices on a nozzle plate.

It is an improvement on the nozzle assembly shown and claimed in myallowed application, Ser. No. 133,556, filed Apr. 13, 1971.

The nozzle apparatus of my prior application, while an advance in theart, had various deficiencies which it is the object of this inventionto correct.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to thoroughly preventleakage of liquid around the rim of the nozzle body while the nozzleplate is being indexed and to prevent any leakage of liquid when thenozzle plate is in a spray delivery position.

I It is another object to flush out any dirt or grime which may getbetween the nozzle body and plate and cause leakage and difficulty inindexing the plate.

It is another object to provide an inexpensive, durable and attractivedevice which will efficiently and completely satisfactorily perform itsfunctions.

To achieve the above objects and others which will become apparent inthe following description, I provide various structural featuresincluding a main nozzle body which has a sealing recess having an outerwall, the top portion of which is recessed at opposed locations and aseal in the recess having its upper portion fitting loosely in therecess so that as indexing of a nozzle plate occurs, water leaking pastthe seal can escape through the top recesses into a large cup-shapedcavity furnishing access to the various openings of the nozzle plate,whereby the leaking water issues towards the front of the nozzleapparatus rather than from the rim, the nozzle plate further having acircular downturned flange contacting a circumferential shoulder on themain body portion additionally to inhibit leakage from the rim.

The invention will be better understood, as well as further objects andadvantages will become more apparent from the ensuing detailedspecification of a preferred, although exemplary, embodiment taken inconjunction with the drawing, wherein:

FIG. 1 is an elevation of the nozzle assembly mounted on a stake;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the-nozzle assembly; FIG. 3 is a cross sectiontaken on' line 3-3 of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the seal;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 5-5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary cross section taken on line 6-6 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is a plan view of the main body portion by itself without any ofthe associated parts;

FIG. 8 is across section on line 8--8 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary cross section on line 9-9 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary cross section on line 10-10 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary cross section of the central part of theapparatus with the fastening rivet shown detached before it is securedto the main body portion.

FIG. 1 shows the nozzle apparatus 1 having an extension 2 connected to ahose 3 and mounted on a stake deliver desired sprays.

The nozzle assembly or apparatus comprises a main body portion 5 and anozzle plate or carrier 6 secured to the main body portion by a rivet 7received in a centrally located recess 8 formed by an upstandingcircular wall 9. The parts 5, 6 and 7 are each made of plastic,

preferably cycolac GSM and are each molded as an integral whole. Therivet 7 has a circular ridge 10 on its bottom and a circular ridge 11 onthe bottom of heat portion 12. After nozzle plate 6 has been associatedwith main body portion 5, the rivet 7 is pressed down into recess 8 andsonically or ultrasonically vibrated to thereby fuse ridges 10, 11 andweld the rivet to the bottom of the recess and the top of wall 9. Theouter portion of heat 12 overlies the surrounding circular wall 13 ofnozzle plate 6. The nozzle plate 6 is thus firmly held in contact withcertain parts of main body portion 5 and the sealing means while beingfree to rotate about circular wall 9 and the central axis of the mainbody portion.

The extension 2 of themain bodyforms an interiorly threaded inlet port14 to which is threaded the conventional end fitting or fixture of waterhose 3 when the nozzle apparatus is in use, a conventional washer beingpositioned in the bottom of threaded port 14. Outlet port 15communicates with and forms a continuation of inlet port 14. Recess 16surrounds outlet port 15 being formed by an inner wall 17 (the wall 17also forming the wall of the port 15) and an outer wall 18. Atdiametrically opposite points the wall 18 has indented portions l8 a fora purpose to be later described.

The recess 16 receives the seal means 19 which has an annular portion 20and at one end an outwardly protruding circumferential rim or shoulderportion 21. The end surface 22 adajcent to shoulder 21 is chamfered. Theannular portion 20 is undercutat 19a to form a bottom thin cylindricalpart and a top thicker cylindri cal part. The seal 19 is made ofelastomeric material, preferably polyethylene.

In use the seal 19 is placed in recess 16 with the end of the sealbearing against the tops of ribs 23 formed in wall 18 in the interior ofthe groove. The proportions of the ribs are such that the upper end ofseal 19 engages and is urged against a planar wall portion of the nozzleplate or carrier 6 when such plate is assembled with the main bodyportion 5. The shoulder 21 snugly engages outer wall 18 of the recessand cylindrical portion 20 is spaced from this wall by a radial distanceequal to the radial width of the shoulder. The inner cylindrical surfaceof the undercut 19a is spaced from the inner wall 17 of recess 16 by theradial dimension of the undercut. This arrangement of the seal gives itgreat flexibility-which enhances the sealing action.

The main body portion 5 also comprises a downwardly opening socket 25for receiving the top portion of stake 4 with a snug fit. Thelongitudinal axis of socket 25 is parallel to the longitudinal axis ofports 14 and 15 and the axis of the socket is close to the central axisof the nozzle apparatus.

, The main body portion 5 further comprises an annular collar part 26.Extending inwardly from collar 26 is a circumferential rim 27. Mergingwith the rim and located diametrically opposite from outlet port 15 is acircular wall 28 forming a socket 29 receiving a spring 30 and a detentball 31, the spring urging the ball outwardly.

The bottom wall 32a of body and the circular upstanding wall or flange32 form a cup-shaped structure enclosing a large cavity 33. The centralportion 34 which forms socket 25 and a rim 34a at the base of socket 8and merges with wall 18 rises from the bottom wall 32a. Similarly therecess wall 18 and wall 28 rise from the bottom wall.

The surface of rim 27 and the tops of central portion 34, wall 18 andwall 28 form a planar wall or surface 35. A boss 36 rises from planarwall 35 to contact a planar wall of the nozzle plate. A space 37 isformed in the main body portion below the bottom 38 of recess 8 to savematerial and to minimize warping of the walls of recess 16 and socket 25which may be caused by a large mass of plastic material as it cools in amold.

The nozzle plate or carrier 6 has a planar wallportion 38 and acircumferential flange 39 bearing against collar 26. The lower part offlange 39 forms a circumferential rim 40 extending downwardly fromplanar wall 38 and bearing against the outer portion of rim 27 whichforms theouter limits of planar wall 35. A circumferential top part 41and a circumferential downwardly extending wall 42 form acircumferential socket receiving collar 26. The wall 42 includes knurls42a'to facilitate turning of the nozzle plate by a hand of the user.

The planar wall 38 is multiply perforated, having a plurality ofperforations, namely the openings 43 and the nozzle orifices 44. Eachofthe openings 43 is radially positioned to cooperate with ball 31 and iscircumferentially positioned to be diametrically opposite an orifice 44or a blank space 45. One of the orifices, 46,

is sized and configured to be simply a continuation of port 15. Theother orifices each have adifferent and distinct configuration. Orifices47 and 48 are shown in detail in FIGS. 9 and 10, respectively, andorifice49 is shown in FIG. 3. Orifice 49 is formed by the cooperation ofa deflector 50 and the wall of the perforation.

.Deflector 50 has a stem portion 51 snapped into and held in an openingin spider 52. Once deflector 50 is assembled with spider 52, theassembly is intended to be permanent. ln assembling stem 51 with spider52 a solution may be used on the stem tip to cause it initially tosoften andreact with the material of the spider to soften it also, thetwo parts thus becoming welded together.

In use nozzle plate 6 is rotated to a desired position by grasping theflange 42 with its knurled surface.

When a desired orifice is in front of the outlet port, ball 31 will snapinto a perforation 43 and hold the nozzle plate in position. The nozzleplate may thus be indexed to the various desired positions. in fourdifferent positions four different sprays will issue from the orifices.

In the fifth position, blank space 45' will prevent any liquid fromissuing.

- When the nozzle plate is moved from one position to another, someleakage past the seal seems to be unavoidable. When the nozzle apparatusis held in the hand of the user and the water pressure is continued inforce while the nozzle plate is turned escaping water must be preventedfrom squirting radially outwardly and at the user. In my nozzleapparatus liquid leaking past the seal will enter the large cavity andissue in a forward direction through openings 43 and orifices 44.Additionally rim 40 bearing against shoulder 27 acts as a seal toconfine the liquid.

The rim 40 and boss 36 also serve to space the bottom of planar wall 38of the nozzle plate 6 from the top of planar wall 35 of the main bodyportion, the boss 36 furnishing a bearing surface, a support for thecentral portion of the nozzle plate and inhibiting tilting of the nozzleplate due to clearances between the parts. Such tilting tends to occurduring turning of nozzle plate 6 when liquid from outlet 16 hits ablankpart of the plate. The liquid pressure tends to tilt the plate andwould tend to cause rim 40 to bear hard against rim 27 at a pointdiametrically opposite the water pressure to exert a braking action. Theboss 36 hearing against wall 38 prevents such tilting and a brakingeffect is produced by the boss. Since the boss is radially closer to theaxis of rotation than the perimeter, the braking effect is less. Withthis arrangement, dirt or other foreign ment of the nozzle plate. Inpractice it has been found that the seal 19 works very well to confinethe liquid while the nozzle plate is in one of its five desiredpositions of use. When the nozzle plate is moved, the seal still tendsto maintain its sealing action till an opening '43 begins .to straddlethe seal. At this time considerable leakage takes place, such leakagebeing greaterthan otherwise because of the indentations 18a. Thisleakage causes a desirable flushing action without annoying the user ofthe device.

The loose fit of portion 20 of seal 19 and the flexibility due toundercut 19a have been found to be very effective in achieving a goodseal while thenozzle plate is in a desired-spray delivering position.Due to the loose fit in the recess and the flexibility of the seal itcan accommodate itself to the irregularities in position which thenozzle plate may assume because of the clearances between cooperatingsurfaces of the various parts. r

What is claimed is:

' 1. In a nozzle assembly for attachment to a garden hose, thecombination comprising a main body portion including an inlet port forattachment of a garden hose fixture and an outlet port in communicationwith said inlet port, an annular collar means on said main body portion,a rotatable nozzle plate having a plurality of nozzle orifices and.including means snugly embraced by said collar means and also includinga planar wall in a planeoverlying said outlet port, a recess in the mainbody portion surrounding said outlet port, a seal means in said recessand means in said recess urging said seal means into sealing engagementwith said planar wall of said nozzle plate, centrally disposed meansarranged to retain said nozzle plate within said collar and in firmcontact with said seal means and indexing means permitting predeterminedpositioning of said orifices in said nozzle plate over said outlet port,said seal means being of elastomeric material and comprising an annularportion fitting loosely in the recess, the end portion of said sealfacing towards the bottom of said recess protruding radially to fitsnugly against a wall of the recess.

2. The nozzle assembly as claimed in claim 1,

, wherein said end portion of said seal comprises an annular shoulderprojecting radially outwardly and the outer surface of said sealcylinder is spaced from the inner wall of said recess by a radialdistance substantially equal to the radial width of said shoulder.

3. The nozzle assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said main bodyportion comprises a cavity surrounded by a wall portion and the outerwall of said recess extends upwardly from the bottom of said cavity.

openings and orifices is communicable with said cavity.

6. The nozzle assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein circumferentiallyspaced ribs on a wall of said recess engage the bottom end portion ofsaid seal to urge it toward said planar wall of said nozzle plate.

7. The nozzle assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein the top of saidwall portion, the top of the outer wall of the-recess and a centralportion of the main body portion form a planar wall portion juxtaposedwith but spaced from the planar wall portion of the nozzle plate and thenozzle plate has a downwardly directed circumferential flange bearing onthe top of said wall portion.

8. The nozzle assembly as claimed in claim 7, wherein an upstanding bosson said central portion of the main body portion bears against theplanar wall of said nozzle plate.

9. The nozzle assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said nozzle platehas a circumferential knurled flange over said collar means.

10. The nozzle assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said annularportion of the seal comprises a lower cylindrical part radially spacedboth from the inner and the outer wall of said recess and an uppercylindrical part in engagement with said planar wall, said uppercylindrical part being of greater thickness than the lower cylindricalpart.

11. In a nozzle assembly for attachment to a garden hose, thecombination comprising a main body portion including an inlet port forattachment of a garden hose fixture and an outlet port in communicationwith said inlet port, a rotatable nozzle plate having a plurality ofnozzle orifices and including a planar wall in a plane overlying saidoutlet port, a seal means surrounding said outlet port having a portionin sealing engagement with said planar wall and further includingacircumferential shoulder portion for engagement with an adjacent wall,centrally disposed means to retain said nozzle plate in formcontact'with said seal means, indexing means permitting predeterminedpositioning of said orifices in said nozzle plate over said outlet portand means on said main body portion for receiving a part of a detachablestake to position said nozzle assembly over the ground, said means forreceiving the stake comprising a downwardly opening socket formed in themain body portion having an axis parallel to the axis of the inlet port.

12. In a nozzle assembly for attachment to a garden hose, thecombination comprising a main body portion including an inlet port forattachment of a garden hose fixture and an outlet port in communicationwith said inlet port, a rotatable nozzle plate having a plurality ofnozzle orifices and including a planar wall in a plane overlying saidoutlet port, a seal means surrounding said outlet port in sealingengagement with said planar wall, said seal means further including aportion adapted to snugly engage a surrounding wall, centrally disposedmeans to retain said nozzle plate in firm contact with said seal means,indexing means permitting predetermined positioning of said orifices insaid nozzle plate over said outlet port, the interior of said main bodyportion being cup-shaped to form a cavity surrounded for substantiallyits entire extent by the outer wall of said main body portion, saidouter wall being relatively thin.

13. The nozzle assembly as claimed in claim 12, wherein said nozzleplate also has openings, said openings cooperating with a spring presseddetent associated with said main body portion, each of said openings andorifices being communicable with said cavity.

knurled flange forming the outer wall of said socket.

1. In a nozzle assembly for attachment to a garden hose, the combinationcomprising a main body portion including an inlet port for attachment ofa garden hose fixture and an outlet port in communication with saidinlet port, an annular collar means on said main body portion, arotatable nozzle plate having a plurality of nozzle orifices andincluding means snugly embraced by said collar means and also includinga planar wall in a plane overlying said outlet port, a recess in themain body portion surrounding said outlet port, a seal means in saidrecess and means in said recess urging said seal means into sealingengagement with said planar wall of said nozzle plate, centrallydisposed means arranged to retain said nozzle plate within said collarand in firm contact with said seal means and indexing means permittingpredetermined positioning of said orifices in said nozzle plate oversaid outlet port, said seal means being of elastomeric material andcomprising an annular portion fitting loosely in the recess, the endportion of said seal facing towards the bottom of said recess protrudingradially to fit snugly against a wall of the recess.
 2. The nozzleassembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said end portion of said sealcomprises an annular shoulder projecting radially outwardly and theouter surface of said seal cylinder is spaced from the inner wall ofsaid recess by a radial distance substantially equal to the radial widthof said shoulder.
 3. The nozzle assembly as claimed in claim 1, whereinsaid main body portion comprises a cavity surrounded by a wall portionand the outer wall of said recess extends upwardly from the bottom ofsaid cavity.
 4. The nozzle assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein saidouter wall of said recess has indented portions at its outer edge whichfacilitate leakage of liquid into said cavity when the nozzle plate isrotated to present different orifices over said outlet port.
 5. Thenozzle assembly as claimed in claim 4, wherein said indexing meanscomprises circumferentially spaCed openings in said nozzle plate each ofwhich is engageable with a spring pressed detent associated with saidmain body portion and each of said openings and orifices is communicablewith said cavity.
 6. The nozzle assembly as claimed in claim 1, whereincircumferentially spaced ribs on a wall of said recess engage the bottomend portion of said seal to urge it toward said planar wall of saidnozzle plate.
 7. The nozzle assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein thetop of said wall portion, the top of the outer wall of the recess and acentral portion of the main body portion form a planar wall portionjuxtaposed with but spaced from the planar wall portion of the nozzleplate and the nozzle plate has a downwardly directed circumferentialflange bearing on the top of said wall portion.
 8. The nozzle assemblyas claimed in claim 7, wherein an upstanding boss on said centralportion of the main body portion bears against the planar wall of saidnozzle plate.
 9. The nozzle assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein saidnozzle plate has a circumferential knurled flange over said collarmeans.
 10. The nozzle assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein saidannular portion of the seal comprises a lower cylindrical part radiallyspaced both from the inner and the outer wall of said recess and anupper cylindrical part in engagement with said planar wall, said uppercylindrical part being of greater thickness than the lower cylindricalpart.
 11. In a nozzle assembly for attachment to a garden hose, thecombination comprising a main body portion including an inlet port forattachment of a garden hose fixture and an outlet port in communicationwith said inlet port, a rotatable nozzle plate having a plurality ofnozzle orifices and including a planar wall in a plane overlying saidoutlet port, a seal means surrounding said outlet port having a portionin sealing engagement with said planar wall and further including acircumferential shoulder portion for engagement with an adjacent wall,centrally disposed means to retain said nozzle plate in form contactwith said seal means, indexing means permitting predeterminedpositioning of said orifices in said nozzle plate over said outlet portand means on said main body portion for receiving a part of a detachablestake to position said nozzle assembly over the ground, said means forreceiving the stake comprising a downwardly opening socket formed in themain body portion having an axis parallel to the axis of the inlet port.12. In a nozzle assembly for attachment to a garden hose, thecombination comprising a main body portion including an inlet port forattachment of a garden hose fixture and an outlet port in communicationwith said inlet port, a rotatable nozzle plate having a plurality ofnozzle orifices and including a planar wall in a plane overlying saidoutlet port, a seal means surrounding said outlet port in sealingengagement with said planar wall, said seal means further including aportion adapted to snugly engage a surrounding wall, centrally disposedmeans to retain said nozzle plate in firm contact with said seal means,indexing means permitting predetermined positioning of said orifices insaid nozzle plate over said outlet port, the interior of said main bodyportion being cup-shaped to form a cavity surrounded for substantiallyits entire extent by the outer wall of said main body portion, saidouter wall being relatively thin.
 13. The nozzle assembly as claimed inclaim 12, wherein said nozzle plate also has openings, said openingscooperating with a spring pressed detent associated with said main bodyportion, each of said openings and orifices being communicable with saidcavity.
 14. The nozzle assembly as claimed in claim 13, wherein saidnozzle plate has a downwardly directed circumferential flange bearing onthe top of the wall surrounding said cavity.
 15. The nozzle assembly asclaimed in claim 14, wherein said main body portion has an annularcollar means and said nozzle plAte has means snugly embraced by saidcollar means, said nozzle plate also having an annular socket receivingsaid collar means, a knurled flange forming the outer wall of saidsocket.